history

Brooklyn Historical SocietyFounded in 1863, The Brooklyn Historical Society is a museum, library, and education center dedicated to illuminating the rich heritage of Brooklyn's diverse peoples and cultures, past and present.

New York City at the Turn of the CenturyAt the turn of the century, New York was the preeminent American city; it represented the "new metropolis." The great waves of European immigrants coming to New York, the consolidation of the five boroughs into one vast city, the development of the city's infrastructure, and the incredible construction boom of the next thirty years all contributed to the city's prominence.

New York City Council HistoryThe history of the New York City Council can be traced back to Dutch Colonial days when New York City was called New Amsterdam.

New York City Transit HistoryNew York City's first official subway system began operation on October 27, 1904 in Manhattan. The inaugural ride for public officials and invited guests became even more memorable when an enthusiastic Mayor McClennan insisted on driving the train for several miles. The First sunday the system opened, a million people tried to "do the subway,"-a figure greater than the City's population a century before. Now, 90 years later, daily subway ridership exceeds New York City's 1904 Population.

The History of Radio City Music HallRadio City Music Hall opened on December 27, 1932. It was the first building of the Rockefeller Center complex in New York City and was conceived by theatrical impresario, S.L. "Roxy" Rothafel who had gained fame as the operator of the very successful Roxy Theater in New York.

The Manhattan ProjectThe Manhattan Project was the code name for the US effort during World War II to produce the atomic bomb. It was named for the Manhattan Engineer District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, because much of the early research was done in New York City.

Tracks on BroadwayPhoto essay on streetcar tracks emerging during roadwork on Broadway near Columbia University.